ARLINGTON - With a little more than four minutes remaining Saturday night and Arkansas holding an eight-point lead over Texas A&M, an ecstatic Razorback fan pulled up his shirt while on AT&T Stadium's massive video board, drawing gasps and guffaws from the crowd.

The real exhibition would take place over the next few minutes, however, when A&M and Arkansas bared it all offensively and defensively in their Southeastern Conference opener.

"The game is never over whether you're ahead in this league or you're behind in this league," a relieved A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said.

The Aggies were the last ones left grinning in a 28-21 overtime victory over the Razorbacks - the second consecutive year the teams went to overtime. And for the second consecutive year, A&M pulled a rabbit out of its hat for the victory.

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The No. 14 Aggies improved to 4-0 overall, while Arkansas dropped to 1-3.

"We're going to wear teams down to where they can't handle us in the fourth quarter," Texas A&M quarterback Kyle Allen said. "We didn't give up, and we didn't tire out, and we ended up pulling away."

Allen's 20-yard touchdown strike to freshman phenomenon Christian Kirk on the first possession of overtime proved the difference. The A&M defense stopped Arkansas on fourth down on the Razorbacks' lone possession of the extra frame.

A&M needed an extraordinary comeback to get to that point. Arkansas led 21-13 with 2:50 remaining when Aggies running back Tra Carson powered into the end zone from the 2-yard line. The touchdown drive was keyed by a 63-yard completion from Allen to Josh Reynolds, who turned in an exceptional second half.

With Arkansas then leading 21-19, Allen placed a perfect pass to Reynolds on the right side of the end zone for the two-point conversion. A&M defensive end Myles Garrett then caused a fumble by Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen on the Razorbacks' final possession of regulation, and Aggies linebacker A.J. Hilliard recovered with 1:04 left.

Three plays later, A&M senior kicker Taylor Bertolet missed a 38-yard field goal wide right by less than a foot as time expired, pushing the contest to overtime. A year ago, A&M won in overtime 35-28 in Arlington after coming back from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit.

Following Allen's touchdown pass to Kirk in overtime, A&M senior cornerback De'Vante Harris broke up a fourth-down pass by Brandon Allen. The Aggies poured onto the field, and the celebration was on for a fourth straight year for A&M against Arkansas. The Aggies have won all four meetings between the programs with both as SEC members.

A 4-yard touchdown run by Alex Collins, who rushed for 151 yards, put Arkansas up 14-13, and the Razorbacks went ahead 21-13 on Rawleigh Williams' 3-yard TD run in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. But Arkansas wouldn't score again.

"We've got a good football team," said Arkansas coach Bret Bielema, whose program lost to Toledo and Texas Tech in the two previous weeks. "I'm tired of keeping it a secret."

The Razorbacks hadn't allowed a sack all season but suffered two against the Aggies. Garrett's crucial sack gave him 61/2 for the season.

Kirk had 130 receiving yards on his first three catches a little more than a quarter into the action, and he finished with eight receptions for 173 yards. Reynolds, the team's offensive most valuable player last season, worked his magic in the second half in a strong balancing act between the two standout receivers, especially on the 63-yard reception and two-point conversion.

After escaping with a victory over Arkansas, A&M faces a formidable path over the next few weeks in its quest to win its first SEC West title. The Aggies play host to Mississippi State, take a Saturday off and then host No. 12 Alabama before finally exiting the state for the first time on Oct. 24, when they play at No. 3 Mississippi.

"We still have a lot to work on," A&M offensive lineman Joseph Cheek said. "Each week, (the opponents) are going to come ready to play. On Monday, we're going back to work."

The Aggies played without sophomore receiver Speedy Noil because of an undisclosed injury.

"He just couldn't go," Sumlin said. "We've got to get him back healthy."